Performance in Snow
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 31,750
Likes: 12,570
From: Nowhereville, Barton City Michigan
5 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 561
Likes: 163
From: Maine
As others have said, if you have 4 wheel drive, use it. Many people question when to use 4 wheel drive. If the back end is breaking loose easily in the snow, then it's time to use it. If no 4 wheel drive, then some weight in the back and a lighter right foot will help a lot. The biggest help, whether 2 or 4 wheel drive is better tires. I have dedicated snow tires that I put on for the winter and they are so much better than the factory tires. As far as the e-locker, personally, I don't think it should be used for driving on the road (I know it automatically turns of at 25 mph). With the rear locked together your odds of the rear end sliding sideways is significantly increased which can result in result in loss of control. Granted this is greatly reduced due to the electronic stability control. I thin the e-locker is for off road rock crawling/mudding or other extreme low traction situations.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,819
Likes: 366
From: South Jersey
its also cool how the stability controls works in the snow too. Come around a corner and gas it. The truck will start going sideways and without letting off the gas, the it will stop rotating and come back in line by itself. 
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 14,975
Likes: 6,035
From: SE Michigan
Not so much. From my 2013 manual:
The ELD is affected by the following conditions:
• The ELD will not engage if the vehicle speed is above 20 mph (32 km/h) in 4x2, 4x4 Auto, or 4x4 High modes.
• The ELD will not engage if the vehicle speed is above or 56 mph (90 km/h) in 4X4 Low.
• The ELD will not engage if the accelerator pedal is pressed beyond 50% during an engagement attempt
• In 4x2, 4x4 Auto, and 4x4 High modes, [the ELD will automatically disengage at speeds above 25 mph (41 km/h) and will automatically reengage at speeds below 20 mph (32 km/h).
• In 4L (4X4 low), the ELD will automatically disengage at speeds above 62 mph (100 km/h) and will automatically reengage at speeds below 56 mph (90 km/h).
• The AdvanceTrac system has the ability to take over control of the ELD and disable it during driving maneuvers when necessary.
The ELD is affected by the following conditions:
• The ELD will not engage if the vehicle speed is above 20 mph (32 km/h) in 4x2, 4x4 Auto, or 4x4 High modes.
• The ELD will not engage if the vehicle speed is above or 56 mph (90 km/h) in 4X4 Low.
• The ELD will not engage if the accelerator pedal is pressed beyond 50% during an engagement attempt
• In 4x2, 4x4 Auto, and 4x4 High modes, [the ELD will automatically disengage at speeds above 25 mph (41 km/h) and will automatically reengage at speeds below 20 mph (32 km/h).
• In 4L (4X4 low), the ELD will automatically disengage at speeds above 62 mph (100 km/h) and will automatically reengage at speeds below 56 mph (90 km/h).
• The AdvanceTrac system has the ability to take over control of the ELD and disable it during driving maneuvers when necessary.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 62
Likes: 2
thanks everyone...I do in fact have 4WD and had it in 4H last night in the snow, and still was experiencing this. I will try placing some sandbags in the bed next time and see if that helps at all.
thanks for the comments everyone!
thanks for the comments everyone!
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 715
Likes: 121
Not so much. From my 2013 manual:
The ELD is affected by the following conditions:
• The ELD will not engage if the vehicle speed is above 20 mph (32 km/h) in 4x2, 4x4 Auto, or 4x4 High modes.
• The ELD will not engage if the vehicle speed is above or 56 mph (90 km/h) in 4X4 Low.
• The ELD will not engage if the accelerator pedal is pressed beyond 50% during an engagement attempt
• In 4x2, 4x4 Auto, and 4x4 High modes, [the ELD will automatically disengage at speeds above 25 mph (41 km/h) and will automatically reengage at speeds below 20 mph (32 km/h).
• In 4L (4X4 low), the ELD will automatically disengage at speeds above 62 mph (100 km/h) and will automatically reengage at speeds below 56 mph (90 km/h).
• The AdvanceTrac system has the ability to take over control of the ELD and disable it during driving maneuvers when necessary.
The ELD is affected by the following conditions:
• The ELD will not engage if the vehicle speed is above 20 mph (32 km/h) in 4x2, 4x4 Auto, or 4x4 High modes.
• The ELD will not engage if the vehicle speed is above or 56 mph (90 km/h) in 4X4 Low.
• The ELD will not engage if the accelerator pedal is pressed beyond 50% during an engagement attempt
• In 4x2, 4x4 Auto, and 4x4 High modes, [the ELD will automatically disengage at speeds above 25 mph (41 km/h) and will automatically reengage at speeds below 20 mph (32 km/h).
• In 4L (4X4 low), the ELD will automatically disengage at speeds above 62 mph (100 km/h) and will automatically reengage at speeds below 56 mph (90 km/h).
• The AdvanceTrac system has the ability to take over control of the ELD and disable it during driving maneuvers when necessary.
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 31,750
Likes: 12,570
From: Nowhereville, Barton City Michigan
Senior Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 547
Likes: 101
From: Iowa
Mine has the same wheelbase as yours. I haven't driven this thing on the road yet in snow, but did "try" to move it around yesterday in about 5" of snow. If you have the Hankook, "Handycaca ATM's" on it,that could be part of your problem. Mine totally suck. I couldn't move the truck in RWD, locked the rear axle, went sideways, put it 4X4, and finally got it to move. Those tires are a joke, a bad joke.
I've had 4X4 trucks since the mid 1970's, so I ain't brand new.
Yes, adding weight would help us out, but so would good tires.
As far as the truck bouncing out on bumps, some good shocks will help tremendously. That was the first thing I noticed on this one. Less than 1K miles, and I replaced all 4 shocks with Bilstein 5100's, settled the thing right down, and corners nicely now. There's other good brands out there as well, don't have to be Bilsteins.
Until I replace those tires, and need to drive in the snow, I'll take my DD, a RWD Ranger with LSD, and DuraTracs, and about 320# +/- of weight. So far, really outshines this truck with the junk tires.
I've had 4X4 trucks since the mid 1970's, so I ain't brand new.
Yes, adding weight would help us out, but so would good tires.
As far as the truck bouncing out on bumps, some good shocks will help tremendously. That was the first thing I noticed on this one. Less than 1K miles, and I replaced all 4 shocks with Bilstein 5100's, settled the thing right down, and corners nicely now. There's other good brands out there as well, don't have to be Bilsteins.
Until I replace those tires, and need to drive in the snow, I'll take my DD, a RWD Ranger with LSD, and DuraTracs, and about 320# +/- of weight. So far, really outshines this truck with the junk tires.
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 31,750
Likes: 12,570
From: Nowhereville, Barton City Michigan
Here's a photo as to what the truck was in. About 17F.
Last edited by johnday in BFE; Oct 8, 2018 at 04:27 PM.